FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Toulouse

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Toulouse each year.
The main ones are listed below.

On the first of May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. On this day, sellers can be found on almost every corner!

Also celebrated internationally as World Music Day, for this festival many free concerts featuring all types of music are held in the streets and at various venues across Toulouse.

This holiday celebrates both the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution, and the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. In Toulouse, evening festivities include a concert at Prairie des Filtres and fireworks set off from barges floating on the Garonne.

This celebration, still very popular in Toulouse, is marked by several religious ceremonies.

The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments, many of which are normally closed to the public. A great opportunity for a lovely stroll through the city to admire architectural treasures!

A traditional Christmas market is held in the Place du Capitole. Its welcoming log chalets all offer original gift ideas. An event not to be missed!

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Toulouse

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	2/36	9/48	51/2.0	Not the best period to go
February	3/37	11/52	52/2.0	Not the best period to go
March	5/41	14/57	49/1.9	Not the best period to go
April	7/45	17/63	70/2.8	Not the best period to go
May	11/52	21/70	74/2.9	Good period to go
June	14/57	25/77	60/2.4	Good period to go
July	16/61	28/82	37,7/1.5	Good period to go
August	16/61	28/82	47/1.9	Good period to go
September	13/55	25/77	47/1.9	Good period to go
October	10/50	19/66	57/2.2	Not the best period to go
November	6/43	13/55	51/2.0	Not the best period to go
December	3/37	10/50	52/2.0	Not the best period to go

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is located in the town of Blagnac, about 8 kilometres (5 miles) north-west of Toulouse.

• One terminal, with four halls: A, B, C and D

• By car
  • Accessible via the A621 motorway and then exit 3 from the D902 road. Travel time is about 15 minutes to the city centre.
  • Several car rental companies have counters at halls C and D.
• By shuttle bus
  • Shuttle buses operated by Tisséo depart every 20 minutes from a stop outside exit C2 on the arrivals level. Travel time is 20 to 45 minutes. The buses run from 5:40 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. in the direction of the Toulouse bus station and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. in the direction of the airport. The fare is EUR 8.00 each way.
  • Bus lines 25 and 30 serve the airport (EUR 1.60 per ride).
  • Bus line 88 operated by the Conseil Général de la Haute-Garonne serves the city of Toulouse and surrounding communities (EUR 2.00 per ride).
• By taxi
  • Taxi ranks are located outside the arrivals area, between exits B3 and C1. You may call ahead to make a reservation, +33 (0)5 61 30 02 54.
  • The fare to central Toulouse is approximately EUR 20.
• By tram
  • The new T2 line connects the airport with the city centre, with trams running every 15 minutes. The first departure from the city centre (Arènes) is at 5:35 a.m. and the last at 11:30 p.m. (Palais de Justice). Travel time is between 20 and 30 minutes depending on the city centre destination and the fare is EUR 1.60 each way.

• Services : shops, bars and restaurants, valet parking, and free Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone : 0 825 380 000 (local rates apply)
• Website : http://www.toulouse.aeroport.fr

GETTING AROUND Toulouse

Toulouse's public transport system is one of the best and most efficient in France. The city's buses and its metro offer excellent coverage and are both easy to use and convenient. Exploring the city centre on foot or by bicycle is also an excellent option.

By rail, bus and tram

• A dense and extensive network
• Two Metro lines (A and B), with 38 stations
• Two tram lines
• A single fare for all modes of transport with only one fare zone (the same ticket may be used throughout Toulouse and its surrounding area)
• More than 80 bus lines
• 1 bus line with extended evening hours:
  • from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday
  • from 9:30 p.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday
• Mobibus service available by request for persons with limited mobility and the visually impaired

• EUR 1.60 for a single ride
• EUR 13.40 for ten rides

By car

For those who prefer to visit Toulouse by car, there are nearly 9,000 parking spaces in the city's various parking facilities. Most of these facilities are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

By bicycle

Toulouse has its own public bike-sharing service, VélôToulouse. Users may pick up and drop off bikes at any of the 242 stations around the city. Toulouse offers more than 500 kilometres (311 miles) of cycling paths.

Rates:

• A ticket valid for 1 day costs EUR 1.20 (in addition to the ticket charge, the first half hour is free, the second costs EUR 0.50 and each subsequent half hour costs EUR 1.00)
• A ticket valid for 7 days costs EUR 5.00 (in addition to the ticket charge, the first half hour is free, the second costs EUR 0.50 and each subsequent half hour costs EUR 1.00)

Pass Tourisme

These passes offer unlimited travel on all modes of transport in Toulouse (Metro, trams, buses and the airport shuttle) plus free or reduced admission fees for many museums, monuments and other tourist attractions, tours and cruises, leisure activities, etc.

Prices:

• 1 day : EUR 15
• 2 days : EUR 22
• 3 days : EUR 29

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Toulouse, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.

Offers practical information (sightseeing, tours, heritage sites and cultural institutions, nights out on the town, etc.) and publications for tourists on the city of Toulouse and its region.

• Address : Square Charles de Gaulle, 31000 Toulouse, France
• Opening hours : Every day from 9 a.m. to 6/7 p.m.
• Telephone : 0 892 180 180 (local rates apply)
• Website : http://www.toulouse-tourisme.com

There is also a tourist information kiosk at Toulouse Blagnac Airport. Its opening hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in France is the Euro (EUR).

1 SEK = 0,10 EUR

1 EUR = 10 SEK

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to France. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address : 38 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website : http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone : +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

There are no specific food safety risks. French government authorities promote good hygiene practices and put in place strengthened control procedures for sites especially frequented by tourists during the summer months.

Tap water is safe to drink in Toulouse.

Administrative formalities

As a general rule, a visa is required to enter France. Foreign nationals in the two categories listed below are not required to carry a visa for stays of 90 days or less:

• Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation
• Nationals of certain foreign countries.

For stays of more than 90 days, a long-stay visa is required.

Travellers from all other countries must be in possession of a visa, regardless of the length of their stay. Visa applications must be submitted to the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the country of permanent residence well in advance of departure.

For further information, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/getting-a-visa/

Useful addresses

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Toulouse, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

00 33

+ phone number without the 0

0 : 00
of time difference with
Stockholm

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March

End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

Banks
Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Government Offices
Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

220 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
In Toulouse like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.